Sun Dec 08 18:39:56 UTC 2024: ## Assad Flees Syria, Granted Asylum in Russia After Rebel Takeover

**Moscow, Russia/Damascus, Syria** – Ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family have been granted asylum in Russia, Russian state media reported today. This follows a swift and decisive takeover of Syria by the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), ending over five decades of Assad family rule.

A Kremlin source confirmed Assad’s arrival in Moscow, citing humanitarian grounds for granting asylum. The President’s departure followed a dramatic flight from Damascus airport, with flight trackers initially showing a Syrian Air plane making a sudden U-turn and disappearing from radar, likely due to the transponder being switched off.

The HTS rebellion, launched just two weeks ago, culminated in the capture of Damascus and other major cities including Homs. Rebel fighters celebrated the fall of the Assad regime, releasing prisoners from notorious Sednaya prison and toppling statues of both Bashar and his father, Hafez al-Assad. The Islamist leader of HTS, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, was seen visiting the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus to considerable popular acclaim.

While HTS has attempted to soften its image in recent years, it remains designated a terrorist organization by many Western governments, raising concerns about the future of Syria. The UN has called for an end to the atrocities committed under Assad’s regime and urged those in power to prevent their recurrence.

The rapid turn of events has drawn international attention, with the White House confirming that US President Joe Biden is closely monitoring the situation. President-elect Trump, meanwhile, claimed Assad fled due to a loss of Russian support. The implications of this dramatic shift in power for the region remain to be seen.

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